Rome is great for history buffs

Rome's a great place to go on vacation, I've been there several times and it never disappoints, particularly in terms of the history that it is inescapably steeped in. Wherever you go, there's something old to look at and learn a bit about, which is why booking a Rome hostel could be an excellent move for all those history buffs out there. In fact, it just claimed the top spot in Gate 1 Travel's predictions for the most popular destinations in 2010, as reported by Reuters.

Obviously, even if you've been there before, your first stop should be the Flavian Amphitheatre, otherwise better known as the Coliseum. According to the Derby Telegraph, this structure is "the most awe-inspiring site in the historic and dramatic city of Rome", suggesting that it's well worth a visit, particularly for newbies to the area.

It may look a little bit worse for wear to the untrained eye, but that's hardly surprising considering what a hard life it's actually had. I imagine you'd look pretty rough if you'd been born in 70AD and then subjected to centuries of earthquakes, stone thieves, inclement weather and the feet of countless Romans tramping all over you day by day. It's thought that around 500,000 people and over a million animals died during the times of the Coliseum games, but it was also used for slightly more humane activities, such as theatre.

Anyone entertaining thoughts of heading to the site may like to make sure that they do so as early as is possible for them, as it's a big tourist hotspot (unsurprisingly) and it might be difficult to get some alone time with the Coliseum. And the news source noted that this is true for other attractions in Rome, such as the Trevi Fountain and St Peter's Square.